Orthopedic shoe



Nov. '6, 1956 c. M. ELSEY 2,769,251

ORTHOPEDIC SHOE Filed 001:, 21, 1955 INVENTOR CARROLL M. ELSEY United States Patent Giiice 2,769,251 Patented Nov. .6, 1956 2,769,251 ORTHOPEDIC SHOE Carroll M. Elsey, Marion, ()hio, assignor of one-third to Philip W. Smith, Marion, Ohio Application October 21, 1955, Serial No:541;999

5 Claims. ((11. 36-85) This invention relates to foot coverings especially adapted to aid in the correction of pronation and to provide a corrective shoe which, when worn on the .normal foot, will have no effect thereon. Thisapplicationwis a continuation in part of my co-pending applicationSerial No. 466,129, filed November 1, 195,4, now -abandoned..-

.-ing activephysiologic exercise of the intrinsic-muscles of the foot.

. Eminent authorities have foundthat'the pathof weight through which, the foot travels is from the heel to the;

midfoot, along the outer border of thefoot until it reaches the outer ball thereof, thence.rollingsmoothly inward across the ball to the base of the inner ball, push off being provided by the great toe.

Applicants invention pertains to the provision of a shoe wherein this full normal range of motion of the foot is automatically provided during each step taken by the wearer. This constant exercise serves to strengthen and correct pronated feet. In convention shoes, resistance is encountered to the normal spring-like action of the arch, the instep being bound to the stiff outer sole thereby pulling :the arch and heel into pronation with each step. On the other hand, in the shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention, the soft upper portion of the saddle and a flexible inner sole provides means whereby the shoe portion adjacent to the longitudinal arch of the foot will wrap around the foot in a slinglike fashion and will provide support which extends from the heel around the ankle along the inner border of the longitudinal arch at the medial side of the foot and instep. Thus as the wearer rolls his weight onto the ball of the foot, the glove or tape-like support follows the arch of the foot in its upward torque movement, even though the outer sole of the shoe may bend or pull in the opposite direction. This favorable action of the shoe on the foot is provided by the disconnection of the medial side of the saddle with the outer sole. Thus a corrective orthopedic action is entertained from the time the shoe is put on the foot until it is removed therefrom.

A shoe constructed in accordance with this invention will ease foot strain which results from either high or low arches. Assuming that the flies are properly secured, the inner sole and the adjacent upper portion of the shoe which extends around the longitudinal arch, instep and back to the rear quarter of the shoe, mold around the foot to provide a snug fit around the ankle, arch, and instep. Such a construction gradually encourages the transfer of the weight of the user to the outer border of the foot. In accordance with natures intended purposes, the outer border of the foot should receive the major portion of the body thrust.

With this shoe, the mild support which is offered thereby aids in walking the way nature intended. In this .shoe construction, the release of the upperportion of ,the saddle .ofdthe shoe from the sole permits. the inner soleand-upper to, pull up and yield to the undersurface of the longitudinal arch. The free upper, portion of the shoe on the, medial side pulls against the attached opposite ,upper portion of the shoe on the lateralside, this lateral portion, of the shoe-upper beingsecured by conventional means to the outersole. Thus, thesaddle of the .shoe which extends around theankle andheel snugly conforms with the foot alongthe medial side of the longitudinal arch. The length of the openingand the depth thereofis governed primarily by .thelength and height of-the wearers longitudinal arch.

Other and further objects and advantages'of .thisinvention .willbecome moreapparent fromaconsideration of the following specification when read=in- .conjunction with the annexed ,drawings.

jFigurel is a side elevation. of. a shoe .constructedain accordance with the teachings of this,iuven,tion.

Figure 2 is'a view of thebottom .oftheshoe indicating in dotted lines the outline of thepocket on themedial .side in the longitudinal arch area.

plane of line. 4-4 of the:.shoe shown in Fig. v 1, looking in the direction. of the: arrows, showing ,a modification ,in which a cover 10 is shown on the upper surface of the outsole 3 subjacent to the resilient member 6.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken in,,the vertical planeof lineh4fi4 of ,the,shoe shown; in Big. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a modification in which the pocket 5 is completely filled with a wedge-shaped resilient member 11.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken in the vertical plane of line 4-4 of the shoe shown in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a modification in which the resilient member in the pocket consists of a hollow-pneumatic, wedge-shaped member 12 completely filling said pocket.

The invention consists of a shoe as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, having an upper 1, and insole 2, and outsole 3, said upper being marginally attached to the insole completely therearound, and being marginally attached to the outsole except in the medial longitudinal arch area, whereby a pocket 5 is formed between the insole and outsole. A resilient member 6 is inserted in the pocket 5 and is secured over its entire upper surface to the adjacent overlying portions of the upper and the insole. The lower surface of the resilient member 6 is secured to the adjacent upper surface of the outsole. The area of attachment to the outsole may vary from the full lower surface of the member to only the lateral peripheral edge 7 thereof. Thus movement of the shoe upper in the longitudinal arch area may occur towards or away from the outsole depending on the conformity of the wearers longitudinal arch and the state of action of the foot. Although the drawings show a conventional type shoe, the upper having flies and holes for securing said flies, the invention is not restricted to this type of shoe but may be applied to any shoe of conventional or any known make. The present invention also contemplates the use of various types and densities of plastics, rubber or other resilient material as inserts or members in the aforementioned pocket on the medial side of the shoe. A variety of forms and shapes may be made for these inserts and members as described below. Any or all of these modifications may have a flap or cover 8 for concealing such members or inserts or the slot itself as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This flap is formed of flexible material and has 3 a vertical dimension which will permit the saddle portion 9 to move relative to the outsole 3.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the cover 10 may consist of material identical to the resilient member 6 or some completely different material to improve the appearance and Working function of the shoe.

In the modification shown in Fig. the wedge-shaped resilient member 11 filling the pocket 5 is sufficiently resilient that it does not restrict motion of the shoe upper towards or away from the outsole in the region of the longitudinal arch to any significant degree.

In the modifications shown in Fig. 6 the resilient member 12 also completely fills the pocket 5, but consists of a closed or semi-closed air space in the form of a pneumatic wedge. The walls of this wedge and the dynamics of the member are such that compression and expansion can occur with ease.

The novelty of this invention resides in constructing the inner sole of a relatively durable flexible material and securing by sewing, stapling or cementing or any combination, the saddle portion unattached with the sole at the longitudinal arch.

Thus it is seen that a corrective shoe has been provided with is light in weight, durable, and which may beworn as a protective device for the foot. It is essential that such a shoe be provided for children in order to correct deformities or abnormalities of their feet as soon as possible. This is not intended to be a cure-all but a valuable aid in producing strong healthy feet and keep ing them strong. It will be a shoe that an orthopedic surgeon can easily alter.

Having described and illustrated the embodiments of this invention in detail, it will be understood that they are ofiered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe having an upper, an insole, and an outsole, said upper being marginally attached to the insole, and being marginally attached to the outsole except in the medial longitudinal arch area, whereby a pocket is formed between the insole and the outsole; and a resilient member in the pocket being secured over its entire upper surface to the adjacent overlying portions of the upper and insole; and the lower surface of the resilient member being secured to the adjacent upper surface of the outsole, this area of attachment being permitted to vary from the full lower surface of the member to only the lateral peripheral edge thereof; whereby movement of the shoe upper toward and away from the medial portion of the outsole in the longitudinal arch area is permitted.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having a cover extending from near the edge of the outsole to the superadjacent portion of the upper to conceal the pocket and its contents.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 including a cover on the upper surface of the outsole subjacent to said resilient member.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, said resilient member being wedged-shaped and completely filling said pocket.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1, said resilient member comprising a hollow, pneumatic, Wedge-shaped member completely filling said pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,331,844 Fairweather Feb. 24, 1920 1,387,712 Hedlund Aug. 16, 1921 1,608,125 Jones Nov. 23, 1926 1,701,839 Divcley Feb. 12, 1929 1,731,225 Schneider Oct. 8, 1929 2,193,704 Vaughn Mar. 12, 1940 

